Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The strategic role of ICT in business development has been identified in the national e-business strategy launched by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in December 2004.

Within this overall framework, the development agencies charged with promoting the growth of industry in general, and the agri-food industry in particular, are committed to optimising the potential of ICT in working with companies and in assisting the growth of strong and sustainable business.

Food companies were among those to benefit from earlier initiatives such as the e-business acceleration fund initiative launched by the Tánaiste and then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Harney, in May 2000 and the e-BIT initiative launched in May 2003. Enterprise Ireland is committed to mainstreaming e-business among its company base and this includes embedding ICT management skills in SMEs, building awareness of the impact of new technologies on businesses and promoting the use of ICT as a marketing and sales channel. In 2006 the e-business unit in Enterprise Ireland will organise a series of events on growing competitiveness through e-business and on-line marketing and e-marketplaces to raise awareness about e-marketplaces, provide advice on promoting companies' on-line presence internationally and guidance on electronic trading.

With regard to food and drinks companies specifically, Bord Bia has launched an electronic portal to provide market intelligence and advice. The portal already has 690 members, which is not far short of the total number of food and drinks companies manufacturing in Ireland, and is currently recording some 6,800 visits and 57,000 pages viewed per annum. Bord Bia's website includes, among other publications, a guide to farmers' markets which can be easily downloaded and updated to promote this growing alternative route to market.

My Department and Teagasc have also been to the fore in providing e-services and e-payments to food producers, processors and exporters and in extending the reach and quality of those services to encourage the sustainable growth of the very important indigenous food and drinks sector.

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